Except as otherwise provided, in this chapter:

(1) Administrator

The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

(2) Advisory Committee

The term “Advisory Committee” means the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee established by section 8108(d)(1) of this title.

(3) Advanced biofuel

(A) In general

The term “advanced biofuel” means fuel derived from renewable biomass other than corn kernel starch.

(B) Inclusions

Subject to subparagraph (A), the term “advanced biofuel” includes–

(i) biofuel derived from cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignin;

(ii) biofuel derived from sugar and starch (other than ethanol derived from corn kernel starch);

(iii) biofuel derived from waste material, including crop residue, other vegetative waste material, animal waste, food waste, and yard waste;

(iv) diesel-equivalent fuel derived from renewable biomass, including vegetable oil and animal fat;

(v) biogas (including landfill gas and sewage waste treatment gas) produced through the conversion of organic matter from renewable biomass;

(vi) butanol or other alcohols produced through the conversion of organic matter from renewable biomass; and

(vii) other fuel derived from cellulosic biomass.

(4) Biobased product

The term “biobased product” means a product determined by the Secretary to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is–

(A) composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products, including renewable domestic agricultural materials and forestry materials; or

(B) an intermediate ingredient or feedstock.

(5) Biofuel

The term “biofuel” means a fuel derived from renewable biomass.

(6) Biomass conversion facility

The term “biomass conversion facility” means a facility that converts or proposes to convert renewable biomass into–

(A) heat;

(B) power;

(C) biobased products; or

(D) advanced biofuels.

(7) Biorefinery

The term “biorefinery” means a facility (including equipment and processes) that–

(A) converts renewable biomass into biofuels and biobased products; and

(B) may produce electricity.

(8) Board

The term “Board” means the Biomass Research and Development Board established by section 8108(c) of this title.

(9) Forest product

(A) In general

The term “forest product” means a product made from materials derived from the practice of forestry or the management of growing timber.

(B) Inclusions

The term “forest product” includes–

(i) pulp, paper, paperboard, pellets, lumber, and other wood products; and

(ii) any recycled products derived from forest materials.

(10) Indian tribe

The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 450b of title 25.

(11) Institution of higher education

The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 1002(a) of title 20.

(12) Intermediate ingredient or feedstock

The term “intermediate ingredient or feedstock” means a material or compound made in whole or in significant part from biological products, including renewable agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine materials) or forestry materials, that are subsequently used to make a more complex compound or product.

(13) Renewable biomass

The term “renewable biomass” means–

(A) materials, pre-commercial thinnings, or invasive species from National Forest System land and public lands (as defined in section 1702 of title 43) that–

(i) are byproducts of preventive treatments that are removed–

(I) to reduce hazardous fuels;

(II) to reduce or contain disease or insect infestation; or

(III) to restore ecosystem health;

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.


(ii) would not otherwise be used for higher-value products; and

(iii) are harvested in accordance with–

(I) applicable law and land management plans; and

(II) the requirements for–

(aa) old-growth maintenance, restoration, and management direction of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (e) of section 6512 of title 16; and

(bb) large-tree retention of subsection (f) of that section; or


(B) any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis from non-Federal land or land belonging to an Indian or Indian tribe that is held in trust by the United States or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States, including–

(i) renewable plant material, including–

(I) feed grains;

(II) other agricultural commodities;

(III) other plants and trees; and

(IV) algae; and


(ii) waste material, including–

(I) crop residue;

(II) other vegetative waste material (including wood waste and wood residues);

(III) animal waste and byproducts (including fats, oils, greases, and manure); and

(IV) food waste and yard waste.

(14) Renewable chemical

The term “renewable chemical” means a monomer, polymer, plastic, formulated product, or chemical substance produced from renewable biomass.

(15) Renewable energy

The term “renewable energy” means energy derived from–

(A) a wind, solar, renewable biomass, ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and thermal), geothermal, or hydroelectric source; or

(B) hydrogen derived from renewable biomass or water using an energy source described in subparagraph (A).

(16) Renewable energy system

(A) In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), the term “renewable energy system” means a system that–

(i) produces usable energy from a renewable energy source; and

(ii) may include distribution components necessary to move energy produced by such system to the initial point of sale.

(B) Limitation

A system described in subparagraph (A) may not include a mechanism for dispensing energy at retail.

(17) Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.